Impatiens Plant Named &#39;DHAR319&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Impatiens  cultivar named ‘DHAR319’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive large purple flowers, good branching and sun resistance. The new variety is a  Impatiens  normally produced as an outdoor ornamental plant for containers or gardens.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Impatiens

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DHAR319’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Impatiens cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Impatiens varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during February of 2006.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Impatiens ‘859’. The pollen parent is the unpatented proprietary variety referred to as Impatiens ‘448’. The new variety was discovered in March of 2007 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2006 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DHAR319 ’ by leaf cuttings was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in March of 2007 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DHAR319’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DHAR319’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DHAR319’ as a new and distinct Impatiens cultivar:

1. Large flowers.

2. Purple flower color.

3. Good branching.

4. Sun resistance.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DHAR319’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Impatiens ‘859’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DHAR319’ have darker foliage, more vigorous growth habit, and larger flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DHAR319’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, Impatiens ‘448’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DHAR319’ produce purple colored flowers compared to the orange colored flowers found on ‘448’. Plants of ‘DHAR319’ also have s a more vigorous growth habit and smaller flowers than ‘448’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DHAR319’ are comparable to the variety Impatiens ‘MisatoFG3’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,662. The two Impatiens varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics however, the new variety ‘DHAR319’ differs in having darker colored flowers, and an overall more compact plant habit. Additionally, the new variety has larger flowers than ‘MisatoFG3’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DHAR319’ can also be compared to the commercial variety Impatiens ‘SAKIMP016’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,769. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however ‘DHAR319’ has a more vigorous growth habit and larger flower size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DHAR319’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 16 cm basket. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 14 weeks from a leaf cutting. FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical bloom of ‘DHAR319’. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2005 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DHAR319’ plants grown in a greenhouse during Winter and Spring in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 15° C. to 26° C. during the day and from 13° C. to 16° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘DHAR319’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: 10 to 12 days at             approximately 25° C. Winter: 14 to 20 days at approximately             18° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous adventitious roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Mounded.         -   Pot size of plant described.—16 cm.         -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 14 weeks from a rooted             cutting.         -   Height.—Approixmately 26 cm.         -   Plant spread.—45 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.         -   Branching characteristics.—Highly branched.         -   Length of primary lateral branches.—24 cm.         -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—5-7.         -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Form: oval             shape Diameter: Approximately 1 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow             Green 148A Texture: Smooth Strength: Strong.         -   Internode length.—Average 6 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Alternate. Quantity: Approximately 20-25             per branch. Average Length: 7 cm. Average Width: 3.5 cm.             Shape of blade: Lanceolate to ovate Apex: Attenuate. Base:             Acuminate Margin: Ciliate Texture of top surface: Smooth             Pubescence: none Aspect: 45 degrees from stem attachment,             straight. Color: Young foliage upper side: Near Green Group             138 A RHS Young foliage under side: Near Greyed Green Group             138 B RHS Mature foliage upper side: Near Yellow Green Group             147 A RHS Mature foliage under side: Near Yellow Green Group             147 C RHS Venation: Midrib with secondary veins. Pinnate,             only lower surface Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side:             Near Yellow Green Group 147 D RHS Venation color under side:             Near Red Group 48 A RHS Petiole: Length: Average 0.7 cm.             Diameter: Average 0.3 cm. Color: Near Red Group 48 B RHS             Texture: Smooth. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Flowers at any day length. All             year round in a greenhouse environment. Flowering is             continuous from spring until fall in an outdoor garden.         -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting.—10 weeks.         -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Single flowers             raised above the foliage. The corolla consists of five             petals.         -   Rate of flower opening.—10 to 15 days from bud to fully             opened flower.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—5-8 Days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—self cleaning.         -   Bud.—Shape: Ovate Length: 1.5 cm Diameter: 0.8 cm Color:             Near Red Purple Group 61 B RHS.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: 7.5 cm. Depth: About cm, including             spur.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5 Arrangement: Rotate, overlapping Length:             3.5 cm Width: 4 cm Shape: Obcordate Apex: Heart Shape Base:             Acute Margin: Entire Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth Color: purple When opening, upper surface: Near Red             Purple Group 67A RHS When opening, lower surface: Near Red             Purple Group N66B RHS Fully opened, upper surface: Near Red             Purple Group 67A RHS Fully opened, lower surface: Near Red             Purple Group N66B RHS.         -   Spurs.—Quantity per flower: 1 Length: 6 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm             Aspect: Spur curvature 40°-45° from peduncle Color: Towards             base: Near Red Purple Group 63A RHS Apex: Near Yellow Red             Purple Group 64A RHS.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: 2 Length: 2 cm Width: 1 cm Shape             (overall): Oblong Apex: Acute Base: Rounded Margin: Entire             Color: Near Yellow Green Group 147D RHS.         -   Peduncles.—Length: 6 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Angle: About 45° to             the lateral branch Strength: Strong, flexible Texture:             Smooth Color: Near Greyed Red Group 182 C RHS.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—There are five stamens with introrse anthers that             are more or less fused and form a cap over the ovary.             Number: 5.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Oblong Length: Approximately 0.4 cm. Color:             Near Red Purple Group 61 B RHS Pollen: Color: Near White             Group 155 D RHS Quantity: Abundant.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: 0.5 cm. Length: 0.5 cm. Color:             Near Yellow Green Group 144 A RHS Stigma: Shape: Round             Color: Near White Group N 155B RHS Ovary Color: Near             Yellow-Green group 144D RHS. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Minute locule fruits produce 5-10 seeds             per fruit.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility has been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Grows best at a range between 10°             C-30° C. Will tolerate moderate temperatures outside of this             range. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘DHAR319’ as herein illustrated and described. 